The original Tony Hawk's Pro Skater arrived on the scene and did the impossible. Not only did it bring skateboarding to the videogame masses, but it also did so with such proficiency that it immediately became the industry standard—a standard as yet unmatched by its competitors.

I can't see too many gamers being disappointed with the sequel. The game is definitely successful as a solid and enjoyable title, but personally, I needed the game to take more of chance to be considered something truly amazing.

Madden NFL 2001 is a better football game than NFL GameDay 2001, but only marginally so. It has a better visual polish (especially in the Nintendo 64 version), loads of options and gameplay that's easier to live with, but I still found it every bit as frustrating to play as every 32-bit and 64-bit football game before it. What's the point of all the extra features that 989 Sports and EA Sports have been cramming into their football games if every contest feels like a chore?

After playing Madden 2001, I am in agreement with Ben on almost all of his points. Naturally, the Nintendo 64 Madden leads in graphics, but its high-res graphics are simply too choppy to go unnoticed. The PlayStation version on the other hand, lacks any sort of graphical punch at all, but plays more smoothly.

No matter how many magazines proclaim how videogames have become "socially acceptable," or that they are now a part of the "mainstream," I'm still not convinced. Take for example the upcoming release of the PlayStation 2 console system. On October 26, 2000, the PlayStation 2 will be unleashed onto the Northern American retail market, and gamers in the region will experience a new era of videogames.

Still, even though their numbers have diminished compared to years past, there are some gamers who actually want the realistic ballplaying experience. It's this audience that 989 Sports is clearly catering to with MLB 2001, but in its effort to provide a sim-like playing experience, it left little in the way of actual enjoyable gameplay.

As I haven't played NFL GameDay 2000 or any prior version of GameDay, I cannot honestly compare it to previous efforts. What I can do is agree with everything else Ben has to say about the game, but I'll try to be brief to avoid parroting his every word. The two major points of the game that I have the most problems with are the graphics and gameplay.

Code of Conduct

Comments are subject to approval/deletion based on the following criteria:
1) Treat all users with respect.
2) Post with an open-mind.
3) Do not insult and/or harass users.
4) Do not incite flame wars.
5) Do not troll and/or feed the trolls.
6) No excessive whining and/or complaining.